Process of obtaining potassium from natural potassium compounds



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL D. JACKSON, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

No Drawing.

To (1H; whom it may concern."

lie it known. that l, DANIEL D. JAoKsoN, a citizen of the I nited otates, and a resident oi llrooliiyn, in the county of liings and Htate oi h'ew York, have invented a new and usei'ul lm rovenient in Processes of 0b taininp; lota um trom llatural Potassium Compounds, of which the :iollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to processes for obtaining potassium from natural potassium ioiupounds. it has for its ob ect to obta n a simple soluble compound oi? potassium in large quantities from natural potassium compounds such, as glauconite or green sand; also to ohtaii'i such soluble potassium compounds in an inexpensive manner and at a relatively low temperature. It consists of the new and improved. process hereinafter set torth.

l mix the compoundcontaining potassium, .'-H('l1 as 'laueouite or green sand, with a rela tively mall proportion of lime. such as pulverized lime or lime rock, and combine with it a haloid salt, such as sodium chloride or calcium chloride. and heat the mixture in a kiln. pirt'erably oi the rotary type to a temperature below the fusion point of the mixture but high enough to produce a vapor pressure of the potassium chloride which is torn'ied. sutlicient to cause the potassium. chloride to be rapidly volatilized. In practice I pre'l erably take glauconite and mix it in suitable proportions with pulverized lime or lime rock, and a sufficient amount oi the sodium chloride or calcium -hloride to combine with allotthe potassium present in the mixture and form potassium chloride. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and, ground and subjected to the proper dep'ree of temperature in a kiln. neither too lilgi'l]. nor too low. I have found that it is not nerJ-essary to use more lime than a quantity equal to that of the glauconite, and per iter-tly satisl actotry results may be obtained with a mixture oi two parts of lauconite to one oi lime provided a suilicient amount of sodium chloride or calcium chloride is used to react with all of the potassium present in the mixture. In order to obtain as high a percentage of potassium as possible, I find it advisable to increase the elauconite and decrease the lime in the mixture so that a mixture of two oi glauconite to one of lime gives more satisfactory results and produces more potassium halide.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Application filed June 25 1920. Serial No. 392,733.

The temperatures in the kiln must be carefully controlled and must be kept below the fusion point of the mixture which begins in the case of a one to one mixture at about 120W CH and in the case of a two to one mixture at slightly lower point. Above the fusing point i'tis impossible to volatilize a material amount of the potassium halide from low lime mixtures, as it becomes dissolved or combined with the other ingredients in a non-volatilizable condition.

The temperatures should be maintained at a sutliciently high. point so that the vapor pressure of the potassium chloride formed is high enough to cause it to be rapidly volatilized. in practice the temperature should be kept above 1050 C, and preferably between 1150 (l. and 1190 C.

With different proportions and varying conditions of the raw materials used the degree ot temperature best suited will vary somewhat, but in practice Ihave found the temperatures above stated to give satisfactory results.

l l hat I claim as new and by Letters Patent is:

l. The process oat obtaining potassium salts from mixtures containing a. natural potassium compound which consists in mixing together the said material with lime and a haloid salt. and heating the mixture at temperatures below the clinkering temperature range of the mixture but high enough to eive a vapor pressure oi potassium halide i uch cause its rapid volatilization.

2. The process of obtaining potassium salts from glauconite which consists inmixinc together the glauconite. lime and a haloid desire to secure salt. and heating-the mixture at temperatures below the clinkering temperature range of the mixture but high enough to give a vapor pressure of potassium halide which will can "0 its rapid volatilization.

a). The process of obtaining potassium salts trom mixtures containing a natural potassium compound which consists in mixin o: together the said material with lime and a chloride salt, and heating the mixture at ten'iperatures below the clinkering temperature range ot the mixture but high enough to give a vapor pressure of potassium chloride which will cause its rapid volatilization.

The process of obtaining potassium salts from p'lauconite which consists in mixing together the glauconite, lime and a chloride salt, and heating the mixture at temper-atures below the clinkering temperature range of the mixture but high enough to give a vapor pressure of potassium chloride which will cause its rapid volatilization.

53. The process of obtaining potassium salts from glauconite which consists in mixing together glauconite and lime in the proportions of two parts of glauconite to one part of lime, and a. haloid salt in sufficient quantities to combine with substantially all of the potassium of the glauconite, and heating the mixture at temperatures below the fusion point of the mixture but high enough to give a vapor pressure of potassium halide whichwill cause its rapid volatilization.

6. The process of obtaining potassium chloride from glauconite which consists in mixing together glauconite and lime in the proportions of two parts of glauconite to one part of lime, and a chloride salt in sufficient quantities to combine with substantially all of the potassium of the glauconite, and heating the mixture at temperatures below the fusion point of the mixture but high enough togive a vapor pressure ot potassium chloride which will cause its rap1d volatilization.

1 peratures'below 1200 C. and above 1050 C.

8. The process OCE obtaining potassium salts from mixtures containing a natural potassium compound which consists in mixing together the said material, lime and a haloid salt, and heating the mixture at temperatures between 1150 C. and 1190 C.

9. The process of obtaining potassium salts from glauconite which consists in mixing together the glauconite, lime and a haloid salt,-and heating the mixture at temperatures below 1200 C. and above 1050 C.

10. The process of obtaining potassium salts from glauconite which consists in mixing together the glauconite, lime and a chloride salt, and heating the mixture at temperatures below 1200 C and above 1050 (I.

11. The process of obtaining potassium salts from glauconite which consists in mixing together the glauconite, lime in the proortion of two oarts o'l qlauconite to one part of lime, and a haloid salt in proportion to unite with substantially all the potassium in the glauconite, and heating the mixture at temperatures 1050 C.

12. The process 0t obtaining potassium salts from glauconite which consists in mixing together the glauconite, lime in the pro portion of two parts of glauconite to one part of lime, and a chloride salt in proportion to unite with substantially all the pot-as siuni in the glauconite, and heating the mixture at temperatures below 1200 G and above 1050 C.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

DANIEL D. JACKSON.

below 1200 C. and above 

